The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-03

ONE OF THE CLERGYMEN STEPPED FORWARD.
The better element of the race does not
parade Fifth avenue of an afternoon or force
its way into the theatres. They have
distinct world of their own! Last October
met local politician who was a candidate
for a Judgeship on the west side of town.
A great many negroes lived in his district,
and as had heard him speak very often
and very eloquently of their polish, refine
ment nd general advancement in intell-
gence and knowledge, | went over with
him to listen to an address from committee
that had been appointed to make nm
present of O gold headed cane The locality
was West Washington square, and the
place the Sunday schoolroom OF a church
made famous by the preaching of a noted
colored divine Dr. Henry Hyland Garnett,
who died in Liberia, shortly after he had
been sent there as American Minister.
When we arrived at the hall it was about
o'clock There were forty or fifty colored
men in the room chatting amiably and
quietly in groups There was an absence OF
tobacco smoke and the old-time political
spittoon. We were the only white men
there The colored men were strong, straight,
and athletic looking They held their
heads well in the air. looked a man straight
IN the eye when they talked to him, ana
spoke in low and well modulated voices.
No man wore the cast-off clothes of another.
10.
colored men nowadays when they succeed
In getting above the position OF servitude TO
have their clothes made for them by more
or less fashionable tailors. IL is easy to
see the idea that underlies such sentiment.
They were as well clad as a body OF brokers
or merchants Their linen was snowy and
their boots polished, but what struck me
most was the air of quiet dignity that was
visible in all of them. There was no stiffness
or formalitV, but the men seemed to have the
repoSe that nearly always comes OF success
full endeavor Mt advancement III lie. Ii the
self-made man all over the world has any
one distinguishing characteristic, II IL the
air of confidence which he has in himself.
After we had been in the hall few minutes,
and the politician had shaken hands with
nearly every man in the place, one OF a
group of five or six clergymen among the
negroes stepped forward with cane III his
gloved hand and made "a little speech while
the others stood in q respectful group be-
hind him. IL was not the conventional
presentation speech beyond the first four or
five sentences The natural eloquence or
the man got the better of the conventional,
and the fact that he was among the aristo-
Gratis of his race probably had much 20 do
with his effort. His diction was as clear
and ornate az that of "a college President,
and when he switched from the subject OF
the present to that of the struggle wnlch
MS race was making aRilnsu tne lruhluoiin
of centuries of degradation and slavery ne
made every man in the room partisan.
shall never forget that speech. The man
was Of 1.-THE build, square shouldered, with
deep chest and massive head his voice
reverberated through the room, and ne
swung his arms with a grace that no study
could ever impart. Every movement was
result Of the strong feeling that almost
carried the speaker away and which had
pronounced effect upon his hearers There
were half dozen speeches made after that,
and they compared favorably with any
public speaking that / have ever heard
among politicians of all grades in legislative
bodies and at election meetings.